Author Archives: Cassandra Carr

MY LIFE: 10 Things I need to remind myself to stop doing

04 Saturday Feb 2017

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MY LIFE: 10 Things I need to remind myself to stop doing

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Every chronic illness warrior makes mistakes. Most of us make some over and over. I definitely do. Old habits are hard to break, right? But for our health, we need to. What are some of these mistakes?

  1. Not pacing: This may be the biggest thing I do wrong. And I don’t think I’m the only one. When I feel good, I do stuff. It’s natural. But even then, I need to realize that preserving some energy is a good idea. After all, none of us know when the tide will turn and we’ll be flaring.
  2. Criticizing: No, not my family. Not my friends. Myself. How many of us beat ourselves up when we can’t do what we want? When we can’t be the perfect parent we want to be?
  3. Blaming: This is related to #2. After I criticize myself, I start to blame myself for my perceived shortcomings. Sure, I have fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, plus hypothyroidism, asthma, and bad back and neck injuries. But I should still be able to DO IT ALL, and if I can’t, it’s my own fault.
  4. Believing other people: Or what you think other people are saying or feeling about you. I think we all put words in other people’s mouths; things that we deflect from them onto ourselves. Resist the urge to decide other people are right.
  5. Too much hope: Now, this one probably sounds crazy, but hear me out. Let’s say you’re starting a new treatment. Don’t get too excited until you know it’s helping. If you put too much into it and the treatment turns out to be a dud for you, how heartbroken will you be?
  6. Too little hope: Yes, this is bad too. Don’t get so down about treatments and medicines that you stop trying things. How are you going to help your symptoms if you don’t go after new ways to treat your chronic illness?
  7. Not prioritizing yourself: It sounds selfish, but it’s crucial for you to make absolutely sure that you’re taking care of yourself, both physically and mentally. If you don’t, you’ll regret it later.
  8. No patience: You need to give treatments and lifestyle changes time to work. If you don’t, you’ll hop from treatment to treatment without any satisfaction.
  9. Getting overwhelmed: We all know our lives carry a tremendous amount of stress. Even if you’re not battling a chronic illness, stress is all around you. But letting this stress get to you when you ARE battling a chronic illness can make things far more difficult. It’s harder to manage your symptoms.
  10. Letting the “whys” win: We all want to know why this happened to us. What did we do to deserve a chronic illness? Sure, acknowledge it, but don’t allow yourself to wallow in the whys.

Do you have anything you need to stop doing that I didn’t mention?

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DISEASE MANAGEMENT: How to care for yourself when you’re too sick to care

01 Wednesday Feb 2017

Posted by in Disease Management

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DISEASE MANAGEMENT: How to care for yourself when you’re too sick to care

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I’ve been dealing with a cold for over three weeks now, and when I saw this picture, I started to think – “How DO I care for myself? What am I doing right now?” So I made a list.

  1. Turtle: This may sound funny, but it’s true. Go into pure survival mode. Do what you have to do to get through the day.
  2. Make lists: When you’re really sick, whether with a cold, the flu, a flare, whatever, stress starts to niggle at you because you know there are things you need to do but can’t. Don’t let your recovery get sidetracked. Instead, make lists. It doesn’t matter what they’re about. Even simple things like “open mail”, “pay bills”, “call cable company” are all things that, once they’re written down, won’t bother you so much.
  3. Keep eating and drinking: Even if this means you consume things you normally wouldn’t, do not stop eating and drinking. Graze if you want, just a little here and there. But try to sip something all day to keep yourself hydrated and flush out toxins.
  4. Self-groom: Or if you really can’t, ask someone else. Just brushing your hair and teeth and running a washcloth over your face will make you feel more human.
  5. Do something to make yourself feel better: Whether it’s finally watching that chick flick you haven’t had time for, spending the entire day coloring, or whatever else will help, do it.
  6. Allow yourself to be sick: Look, America has this idea that every person needs to be productive every day. It’s crap. And it’s making us sick. Not just chronic illness warriors, everyone. Think about all the people with headaches, back pain, etc. A lot of that can be tied back to the need to do do do. You’re sick. You’re battling a chronic illness. Give yourself a break.
  7. Resist the urge to overdramatize your sickness: If you’ve got a cold or some other relatively minor thing, even if you’re a chronic illness warrior, it’s probably not that big a deal. Don’t make it more than it is. Don’t let it be too big or important.

Do you have tips that work for you? Tell me in the comments!

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STORIES FROM OTHERS: How to set goals when you have a chronic illness

27 Friday Jan 2017

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STORIES FROM OTHERS: How to set goals when you have a chronic illness

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I don’t set goals, but I know a lot of people do. When you have a chronic illness, goals can be your enemy — if you don’t learn how to set goals that will work with your illness. I read this blog post and thought it had a lot of great points. I’ve summarized them below.

  1. Understand why you’re setting the goal. That will help you have the passion to reach it. Making the goal specific and related to your dreams, hopes, and wants is important, because otherwise you won’t fight for it as hard.
  2. Don’t set goals to please others. Chronic illness warriors have enough guilt problems. Making goals for someone else is a recipe for heartache and depression. Life is too short (and too hard) to live for anyone but yourself.
  3. Break the goals into pieces. People like us never know how we’re going to feel from day to day. If your goal is a large one, it will be harder to realize. However, if you have benchmarks to hit along the way, even if you don’t make that ultimate goals, you’ve at least made it partway, which should give you a sense of accomplishment.
  4. Be ready to let a goal go if necessary. Like I said above, our health is unpredictable. Making a goal that you depend on too much for your happiness could be detrimental. Bitterness and anxiety can set in, and that’s the last thing you want. You need to be prepared to modify your goal if you can’t realize it, while avoiding guilt.

I hope these tips will help those of you who do set goals. Do you have any other ideas? Tell me in the comments!

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GO NATURAL: Some alternatives to ibuprofen and other painkillers

24 Tuesday Jan 2017

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GO NATURAL: Some alternatives to ibuprofen and other painkillers

Some of these ideas are ones I’ve talked about before on this blog, but I’ll try to give more information about them and other methods to help you make an informed decision regarding which you might want to try. After all, none of us wants to take lots of drugs, right?

Information for this post was partially taken from this source. Whenever possible, I’ve given you links to products that aren’t pills. Most of us already take more pills than we’d like, and I hate to add more when other types of products exist.

Natural Alternative to Ibuprofen # 1 – White Willow Bark

White Willow Bark is an herbal remedy that stretches back in time, over 2000 years. It is gathered from the bark of various species of willow trees and has been used in many herbal medicine cultures, including that of the ancient Chinese, and Romans. As well as being used to treat lower back pain, osteoarthritis and other conditions including bursitis and tendinitis, it can also be used as a natural headache relief medicine.

White Willow Bark contains a natural chemical known as Salicin. Aspirin, which contains Acetylsalicylic Acid, was modeled on Salicin when it was first engineered back in the 1800s. Although it is not as fast acting as aspirin, the effects of White Willow Bark may have a longer lasting effect.

The product I linked to is a powder that you can use in water, juice, or a smoothie. Only use about 1/4 teaspoon – a little bit of this stuff goes a long way. There’s some safety information I think is important to note (taken from the Amazon page for the powder):

Because willow bark contains salicin, people who are allergic or sensitive to salicylates (such as aspirin) should not use willow bark. Some researchers suggest that people with asthma, diabetes, gout, gastritis, hemophilia, stomach ulcers, or with kidney or liver issues should also avoid willow bark. If you have any of these conditions, or if you take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or blood-thinning medication, ask your health care provider before taking willow bark. Children under the age of 16 should not take willow bark.

Natural Alternative to Ibuprofen # 2 – Cats Claw

Cat’s Claw is so named because of its resemblance to… yes – you’ve got it… a cat’s claw! It’s a thorny vine that is known to climb as high as 100 feet, and it’s the bark and the root of the plant that are used to make the herbal medication. The plant is found in South and Central America, but mostly in the rainforests of the Amazon. The majority of Cat’s Claw that is sold here in the USA is imported from Peru.

Research indicates that Cat’s Claw may be able to stimulate the immune system. Because of this it is advisable not to take it if you are on medication to suppress your immune system function. Cat’s Claw contains an anti-inflammatory agent that prohibits the manufacture of a hormone known as prostaglandin, a hormone which is in part responsible for pain and inflammation. It also contains antioxidants.

The research carried out to date also suggests that Cat’s Claw can be taken to relax smooth muscles, to dilate blood vessels (thus helping to lower hypertension), and as a natural Diuretic, to help the body to lose excess water. It is often taken by people who suffer from osteoarthritis of the knee.

NOTE: I’ve tried Cat’s Claw, and it didn’t seem to work for me, but like all things, your mileage may vary.

Natural Alternative to Ibuprofen # 3 – Boswellia

Boswellia is also known as Indian frankincense. It comes from the Boswell Serrata tree which grows in India and has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. Traditionally, it has been used in resin format to treat chronic inflammatory conditions, as well as a number of other disorders.

Can’t get you away from a pill here. That appears to be the only type of product available for it. If you know of another way to use boswellia, let me know!

Natural Alternative to Ibuprofen # 4 – Capsaicin

Capsaicin is an ingredient of the Chili Pepper. It is made into a cream that can then be applied topically to any painful area (not the eyes). When we experience pain, a substance known as substance “P” carries pain signals to the brain. Capsaicin is able to interfere with this process. It can be purchased in different grades of strength, and upon initial application can cause some localized stinging or burning, which then quickly subsides. After several applications, (it should be applied 3 to 4 times per day), these sensations are no longer felt.

Because Capsaicin comes from Chili Peppers, certain precautions should be made, such as washing your hands thoroughly after applying it, and keeping it away from your eyes, and from children too. As well as being available in cream or ointment format, it is also available in patches.

Natural Alternative to Ibuprofen # 5 – Curcumin

Curcumin is an ingredient that comes from the herb known as Turmeric. It comes from India, where it has a long history of being used in Ayurvedic medicine. It works in a similar way to Capsaicin in as much as it blocks the transmission of substance “P”, but it’s also credited with the ability to block certain proteins that cause inflammation.

It is used to treat arthritic pain but has many other capabilities too according to this article published in Natural News. It is the most medically researched natural herb and it still undergoing tests.

Natural Alternative to Ibuprofen # 6 – Essential Oils

Whilst not strictly speaking a direct alternative to ibuprofen as an out and out pain killer, essential oils have the ability to combat one of the most common forms of pain – that of the headache.

They work on three levels. First, a natural chemical level. In the second instance, they work on the sensory level, through your sense of smell. In the third instance, when applied through light finger massage (rather than being poured into a bath in which you then soak for 20 or 30 minutes or diffused into the air), the massage itself helps to relieve tension. There are three main essential oils to consider. They are:

  • Roman Chamomile – great as a muscle relaxant
  • Lavender – a wonderful natural pain reliever
  • Clary Sage – lowers heart rate and blood pressure, reducing stress and tension

 

None of these products will totally mitigate our symptoms, but if using one or more of them can help out with the pain? Sign me up! Do you know of other natural alternatives to ibuprofen and other painkillers?

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DISEASE MANAGEMENT: Supporting a spouse with chronic illness

21 Saturday Jan 2017

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DISEASE MANAGEMENT: Supporting a spouse with chronic illness

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I try not to copy things directly from other blogs, but sometimes it’s the way to go. I always give credit, of course, and this is no exception. This post (the URL for the full post is at the bottom of this one) was written by a man whose wife battles chronic pain and illness. In the post, he gives several tips for how to deal with a partner in this situation. I’ll let him explain…

1. I think that it is important to think of pain as your common enemy, not as a part of your wife or baggage that comes with her. It is something outside of both of you that impacts both of you and that can kill your marriage.

2. If your wife is anything like mine, she will try to hide her pain from you. She does it for two reasons: one, she does not want to be a wuss or a whiner. Second, she knows that her in pain is distressing for those that she loves, so she hides it from us.

3. Because women in chronic pain have to be good at ignoring their own pain, their maximum sneaks up on them and on you. Trust me when I say that you do not want to be surprised by your wife’s pain. The wall of pain will hit her hard, and if you are lucky she will end up snapping at your or the kids. If you are unlucky, she will collapse into sobs that will break your heart to hear. Before I learned to read the signs in my wife, it would seem like her breaking point would come out of nowhere. We tried to get her to tell us when she was coming up on her limit, but she only notices about 30 percent of the time, and that is after years of coaching and encouraging.

4. To avoid a pain-storm, be on the look-out for non-verbal clues of increased pain. My wife who is normally a font of cheerful patter gets quieter the further into pain that she goes because she does not want her voice to betray her pain. She holds her body more rigid, trying not to limp and holds her breath, taking one long rasping breath for every three that I take. There is also a look of grim determination that settles in her eyes, even if she is smiling.

5. When you note the non-verbal clues of increased pain, reflect them back to her. Ask that she put her pain on a scale from 1-10, but make note if she tends to tip to one side of the scale. My wife has had a C-section without anesthesia, so that is her 10. She rated a compound broken bone where I could see a jagged bone tip protruding through the skin of her ankle as a five. So know how she rates things. When you determine that she is in rising pain, encourage her to move towards a place where she can rest and take medication. Remind her how much the pain storm will cost her. If it is worth it for her to continue, then so be it. Do what you can to support her.

6. Chronic pain does not mean that the person has the same level of pain every day or even at various times in the day. So encourage her to put the fun stuff first. If she has enough energy and pain relief to do a quick trip out and about, encourage her to go someplace fun rather than the grocery store

7. Don’t let her “should” on herself—beat herself up for what she cannot do. Argue back when she expresses guilt or sets impossible expectations for herself. When my wife tells me that she is a bad mother because she couldn’t stand in the rain beside a soccer field, I remind her of all the other ways that she has been there for our kids. Encourage her to tell significant people in her life such as her boss and co-worker that her life is significantly impacted by pain. Remind her that stating the truth is not the same as complaining and it does not make her a whiner.

8. One of my early ways of dealing with my wife’s chronic pain was to encourage my wife not to do things that caused her pain. Then I realized that if she avoided all activities that caused her pain, she would never do anything. Let her grit her teeth and get through pain for things that are important to her, even if it kills you to watch her do it. And trust your wife if she says that she wants to have sex even while in pain. Sometimes and in some women, arousal can do wonders to offer temporary relief from pain.

9. Women in chronic pain are used to working through pain, distracting themselves, minimizing etc. They play mind games that help them get around it. But this means that they pay less attention to their bodies than other women do. In some cases, this makes it harder for the woman to get aroused. In my wife’s case, it makes her really really clumsy. I used to try to help her by saying things like “Your toes and nose should be pointed in the same direction as the location you are placing an object like a glass.” That really isn’t helpful. We have compromised: for things my wife knows are important to me, like lifting and carrying food, (I love her cooking and when it gets spilled all over the kitchen floor, I am in pain) she agrees as a favor to me to allow me to do those things. And, I keep plenty of Band-aids, ice packs and other things for the rest.

10. The key thing to remember is that pain builds even while you are managing to ignore it. The longer your wife is in pain, the more of it she experiences and the less she can block it out. So what would be an objective level 5 pain your wife can block out to make it a level 2. But when she is no longer able to block it, it will come back as 6-8. Beware of this whiplash phenomenon.

Read the article in its entirety here.

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DISEASE MANAGEMENT: Why are magnesium baths so important for fibromyalgia warriors?

18 Wednesday Jan 2017

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DISEASE MANAGEMENT: Why are magnesium baths so important for fibromyalgia warriors?

People battling chronic illness are notoriously low in magnesium, an essential building block for our bodies. Magnesium isn’t the only mineral our bodies don’t get enough of, but today we’re focusing on magnesium.

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Magnesium is important for everybody, but especially for fibro warriors. Most of us don’t have magnesium to perform all the functions our body needs. Following are some of the things you might feel if you’re magnesium deficient.

Magnesium deficiency symptoms include:

  • anxiety and irritability
  • restless legs syndrome (RLS)
  • sleep disorders
  • nausea and vomiting
  • abnormal heart rhythms
  • low blood pressure
  • confusion
  • muscle spasms
  • weakness
  • unhealthy nails
  • seizures

Courtesy of VeryWell

Low magnesium levels may also lower levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that’s involved in these conditions as well as depression, migraine, PMS, RLS, and sleep.

Magnesium is found in several foods, including nuts (almonds, cashews, peanuts), vegetables (spinach, avocado, black beans, baked potatoes, broccoli, carrots), grains (whole wheat bread, magnesium fortified cereals, oatmeal, rice), meats/fish (salmon, halibut, chicken, beef), fruits (bananas, raisins, apples), and dairy (yogurt, milk).

As I mentioned, though, most of us are deficient in magnesium, so maybe we don’t absorb it as well as others who don’t battle fibromyalgia. So what’s a warrior to do? Get magnesium in a more direct way!

Take a bath!

Both Epsom salts and magnesium flakes work for this purpose. You’ll want about two cups for a “normal” tub. Check with your manufacturer if you have a spa tub or other specialized tub to make sure adding things to your water won’t hurt them.

Why is this method so effective? Because your skin is very good at absorbing things, so when the magnesium melts into the water, and your skin comes into contact with it in many places since you’re lying in the bath, it soaks it up like a parched garden finally getting a good watering.

Magnesium supplements also exist, and there are debates about which type is best. If you’re a fibro warrior, you’ll probably want to take a supplement. But the way I look at it is…why only use one method to ensure you get enough of a crucial compound?

Here are some products to try (my favorites!):
Epsoak Epsom Salts, 19.75 lbs

Dr. Teal’s Lavender Scented Epsom Soak, 48 ounces (lavender is a good addition to your bath, since it’s also beneficial to fibro warriors)

Ancient Minerals Magnesium Flakes, 8 lbs

Life-Pro Pure Magnesium Flakes, 44 ounces

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GO NATURAL: Let’s talk about detox!

15 Sunday Jan 2017

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GO NATURAL: Let’s talk about detox!

I’m sure I sound like a lunatic for being so enthusiastic about this topic, but truthfully, I am kind of excited about it. Why? Because I think it’s one of the easiest, fastest ways anyone suffering from a chronic illness can help themselves.

What is detox, exactly? In the most basic terms, it’s the act of ridding your body of anything that can hurt it. This includes all kinds of toxins, which is why it’s called detox. 😉

I’ve brought together several recipes for different kinds of detox, and in my opinion, it’s best to mix them up, since they target different things. Makes sense, right? Let’s go!

Detox with a smoothie

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Recipe courtesy of Sofisty Recipe

Now, I know what you’re probably saying. “This looks like a gross combination, just a bunch of blended up veggies.” Well, you’re right. That’s the basis for this smoothie, but really, we all know vegetables are one of the best ways to stay healthy, right?

Most of us, but especially chronic illness warriors, have too high an acid Ph in our bodies. This smoothie targets the liver, which stores and gets rid of the toxins you eat, drink, and breathe. In effect, it’s a booster shot to help the liver do better what it already does.

Detox with water

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Recipe courtesy of Budget Savvy Diva

Everybody and their little brother is carrying a bottle of water around these days. It’s not a secret that water is good for you, but if you’re like me, you’re not crazy about the taste. It’s boring, IMO. So spruce it up! Not only will you drink more if it’s an interesting flavor, but you’ll also get the benefits of the wonderful things you add.

This recipe has three basic elements, besides the water itself, and ice. Here’s why they’re a part of this particular concoction.

Cucumbers – Refreshing

Strawberries – Energy BOOSTER – Adds a wonderful flavor to the water plus has enough fiber to boost your digestion

Basil – Helps curb appetite, settle upset tummies, also is a  fluid retention helper ( I know when it is warm I am always retaining water)

INGREDIENTS

  • Ice
  • Water
  • 3 Basil leaves roughly chopped
  • 1 strawberry sliced
  • 3 – 5 slices of cucumber

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Combine all the ingredients in a large glass
  2. Let it sit for 5 minutes at least
  3. Enjoy

Detox with soup

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Recipe courtesy of citronlimette.com

Know what’s awesome on a cold winter day? Soup! Know what’s delicious no matter what time of year it is? This soup!
Ingredients
  • 1 cup medium onion, diced
  • 6 clove garlic, minced
  • 3 stalks celery, diced
  • 1 large red pepper, chopped
  • 4 carrots, diced
  • 1 large sweet potatoes, cut in small cubes
  • 1 small zucchini, diced
  • 1 small yellow squash, diced
  • 1- 28 ounce diced tomatoes
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh cilantro, cupped
    Coupons
  • ½ Tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped
  • 3 cups vegetables broth
  • 3 cups water
  • 2 cups white beans. cooked ( use your favorite)
  • 1 head kale, stems discarded and leaves chopped
  • salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste
Instructions
  1. Put all the ingredients except the kale in the slow cooker on high for 4 hours or put all the ingredients except the kale in a large pot and cook on the stove. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook uncovered for 1 hour. After the soup is fully cooked through, stir in the kale and keep over the heat for 2 minutes longer.

And a bonus, detox with diet

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I hope I’ve given you some viable options for ways to detox your body. For tons more, take a peek at my Pinterest board, Detox Your Body, and be sure to add your favorite recipe for detoxing in the comments section!

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RECIPES: Five dump it and forget it crockpot – slow cooker meals

12 Thursday Jan 2017

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RECIPES: Five dump it and forget it crockpot – slow cooker meals

A crockpot/slow cooker is a great thing for those of us who want to eat healthy but have no energy. Many crockpot recipes can be made in minutes with little preparation. Sounds like a plan to me! I picked five recipes that are truly easy to throw together. Let’s get started!

 

HONEY MUSTARD CHICKEN

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Recipe courtesy of Eat At Home

Serves 6-8 (leftovers if you have a small family – yay!)

Ingredients
  • whole chicken, cut up (or the equivalent in chicken pieces)
  • ½ cup honey
  • ¼ cup dijon mustard
  • salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
  1. Mix the honey, mustard, salt and pepper together in a small bowl.
  2. Put the chicken in the crockpot and pour the mixture over the top.
  3. Cook on high for 6-8 hours.

 

SLOW COOKER FRENCH DIP SANDWICHES

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Recipe courtesy of Carl’s Bad Cravings

Ingredients

  • 3 lb beef chuck roast trimmed of excess fat*
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 6 French rolls or hoagie buns
  • 12 slices provolone cheese
Slow Cooker
  • 1/3 cup reduced sodium soy sauce
  • 1 cup Coke NOT diet
  • 2 10.5 oz. cans beef consommé, or sub with beef broth
  • 1/4 cup dry minced onions
  • 1 tablespoon beef bouillon
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 bay leaf

Instructions

  1. Heat olive oil over medium high heat in a large nonstick skillet. Using two forks or tongs to hold roast, sear on all sides until lightly browned. Add to slow cooker and top with all remaining Slow Cooker ingredients. (NOTE: It’s not a tragedy if you don’t brown the roast.)
  2. Cook on LOW for 4 hours then remove roast to a cutting board. Thinly slice roast across the grain. Place sliced meat back in slow cooker and continue to cook on LOW for 1-2 additional hours.
  3. When ready to serve, remove roast and strain fat from broth for dipping.
  4. Split rolls and line the bottoms on a baking tray. Top each half with beef followed by 2 slices cheese. Bake at 350 degrees F or until cheese is melted. Serve with reserved au jus.

BONELESS COUNTRY STYLE BBQ RIBS

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Recipe courtesy of Happy Money Saver

Ingredients

2-3 lbs. boneless pork country-style ribs
1/2 large onion, thinly sliced (I buy pre-diced onion for stuff like this)
3 cloves garlic, minced (I use jarred minced garlic)
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup apple sauce
1 1/2 cups barbecue sauce (totally acceptable to use a store-bought sauce)
salt and pepper

Instructions

Lightly salt and pepper your boneless pork ribs on both sides. Add all ingredients to your slow cooker. Gently mix it all up. Cook on low for 5-6 hours. Remove meat from slow cooker. Discard juices. Top with 1/2 cup fresh bbq sauce. Serve.

 

RANCH PORK CHOPS

Recipe courtesy of Happy Money Saver

Ingredients

  • 4-6 uncooked pork chops
  • 1 envelope of dry Ranch dressing mix
  • 2 cans (approx. 10 or 11 oz. each) Cream of Chicken soup (I don’t add any water)

Instructions

Put all ingredients in slow cooker and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours.

 

BEEF WITH BROCCOLI

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Recipe courtesy of The Frugal Girls

Ingredients

  • 1.5 pounds of flank steak, trimmed of fat
  • 1 bag frozen broccoli florets {14 oz.}
  • 1 Lee Kum Kee Sauce for Broccoli Beef Sauce packet {8 oz.} NOTE: This is, admittedly, expensive, so feel free to substitute something else
  • ¼ cup water

Instructions

  1. Cut half-inch long thin strips against the grain of your steak (the grain usually runs visibly along the length of the steak).
  2. Then cut long strips into 2″ – 3″ pieces.
  3. Add steak strips to crockpot, spreading out evenly across the bottom.
  4. Pour ¼ cup water over steak pieces.
  5. Cook on LOW for 1.5 – 2 hours, or until meat is tender.
  6. After 1.5 – 2 hours, drain juices from crockpot, then pour Lee Kum Kee sauce over steak and stir.
  7. Cook on LOW for 20 more minutes.
  8. Just before meat is done, cook broccoli per instructions on the bag.
  9. Stir in cooked broccoli right before serving.
  10. Serve over rice and ENJOY!

Do you have favorite go-to recipes for when your energy is low? Tell me in the comments!

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MY LIFE: Coping with colds when you battle a chronic illness

09 Monday Jan 2017

Posted by in My life

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MY LIFE: Coping with colds when you battle a chronic illness

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I doubt any of us even looks this happy when we have a cold (or another common illness) on top of whatever else we battle on a daily basis. But even with our messed up immune systems, there are things we can do to mitigate our symptoms. I recently wrote a blog post about a product you can take, Sambucol, which has helped me when I have a cold. This is only one avenue, though. What are some other tips?

REST. Yes, I know we all rest. We have to. But now is not the time to be a hero. Colds and other temporary illnesses can be a huge thing for warriors like us, and we need to take them seriously, more seriously than other people do.

MAKE YOUR ENVIRONMENT AS CONDUCIVE TO HEALING AS POSSIBLE. This means being in your most comfortable place, even if it means you stay in bed for a week. It means you banish anything that might make you sicker, like your children. I know that sounds callous, but, at least to a certain degree, necessary. I allow my daughter to come in and see me for short periods, but not for long.

USE ANY PRODUCTS YOU BELIEVE IN. I’m not a big fan of commercial cold medicines like DayQuil, but there is a time and place for them, particularly if you have to do something despite being sick. If you can avoid using them, all the better. Sambucol is an example of a product that you should be taking if you have a cold. Airborne, OnGuard beadlets, and other immune-boosting products are your friends right now.

TRY NON-TRADITIONAL REMEDIES. As I mentioned, I’m sick right now. Looking around my bedroom, where I am resting in my bed (see what I did there?), I can see all the ways I’m trying to kick this cold. My Himalayan salt lamp is on full-bore, I’m diffusing a combination of oregano, marjoram, Breathe, and OnGuard essential oils. I have an OnGuard roll-on bottle and a blend I made myself for immune boosting.

Here are some recipes for roll-on bottle blends for illnesses:

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Just in case you can’t read the teeny-tiny writing on the bottles, here’s the recipe:
5 drops Frankincense
5 drops Oregano
10 drops Lemon
10 drops Melaleuca
10 drops OnGuard
Top with carrier oil of your choice in a 10ml rollerball. Roll on the bottom of the feet frequently.

EAT AND DRINK. You know that whole, feed a cold, starve a fever? Well, I don’t know how true that is, but I try to make sure I keep eating and drinking when I have a cold. Nausea is a whole different ballgame, but as long as the major symptoms coincide with that of a cold, keep something in your stomach. I tend to graze, since my appetite isn’t great on a good day. Right now, I’ve got a Bai5 that I’ve dumped two scoops of Doctor’s Best D-Ribose into. You can’t taste it and it seems to help with the whole energy sucking part of fibromyalgia.

That’s all I can come up with for now. If you have other tips, tell me in the comments!

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PRODUCT REVIEW: Sambucol Natural Cold Remedy

07 Saturday Jan 2017

Posted by in Product Reviews

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PRODUCT REVIEW: Sambucol Natural Cold Remedy

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This is Sambucol, a natural remedy comprised primarily of elderberries. These are small tablets that dissolve pretty quickly on your tongue. They taste fine and not like medicine or the dreaded NY-Quil “shot”, as I refer to it. Why not just start downing tequila? And all those chemicals? Yuck! Sambucol is made out of natural ingredients, which, as you know if you read this blog, I’m all about.

The two-pack contains 60 tablets, and you should start them as soon as you start to feel cold or flu symptoms. Then, every three hours, continue to use them until the sickness goes away.

They recommend you continue to take them for 48 hours after the illness subsides, and I’ll leave it to you about whether or not you want to do that, but it certainly can’t hurt!

There are 18 reviews of this product on Amazon, and all are five-star. Now, you might be saying – “These must be shill reviews!” If you read them, though many gush about the product, they sound genuine. Again, I’ll let you decide. I can only tell you about my experience.

I don’t always remember to take these right away, but I firmly believe they do help. And other than while I’m sleeping, I do try to stick to the recommended every three hour dosage. My cold symptoms aren’t as bad – I’m sick right now and using this product, which is why I decided to do the review. I have asthma, on top of fibromyalgia, so a cold is a BIG DEAL. I do whatever I can to get over it as quickly as possible.

If you try this product let me know!

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